PSYC 3604 MIDTERM #1 STUDY NOTES
CHAPTER 2 - CURRENT PARADIGMS & INTEGRATIVE
APPROACHES WHAT IS A PARADIGM?
• Paradigm: a set of basic assumptions, a general perspective, that defines how
to:
o Study a subject
o Gather and interpret data
o Think about a particular subject
PARADIGMS IN ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY
• Biological
• Cognitive-behavioural
• Psychoanalytic
• Humanistic-existential
• Integrative
BIOLOGICAL PARADIGM
• Biological paradigm: says that mental disorders are caused by defective
biological processes
• 3 areas of research:
o Behavioural genetics
o Molecular genetics
o Neuroscience/Biochemistry
BEHAVIOURAL GENETICS
• Behavioural genetics: the study of individual differences in behavioural
attributable to differences in genetic makeup
o Genotype: unobservable genetic constitution
▪ Inheritable - e.g. schizophrenia
o Phenotype: observable, behavioural characteristics
▪ E.g. environment and experiences can trigger schizophrenia
• Methods:
o Family Method: use index cases (or probands - family member who has
the
diagnosis in question)
▪ Genetics are 50% from mom and 50% from dad
▪ Predisposition of a mental disorder - should be able to see
prevalence in other relatives
o Twin Method: concordance rates of MZ (identical) and DZ (fraternal)
twins
▪ Start with one twin and search for it in other twin
▪ Prevalence should be higher in MZ twins
o Adoptees Method: study children adopted and reared apart
▪ Rare method of study
• Concerns:
o Data can be difficult to interpret
o Other potential confounds
▪ E.g. parents are fearful and teach kids to be fearful
o Twin studies - equal environment assumption
MOLECULAR GENETICS
• Molecular Genetics: tries to specify particular genes involved and functions
of target genes
• Basic Concepts:
o Gene: a unit of DNA that transmits genetic information
, o Allele: different forms of a gene - produce different versions of the
trait they determine
o Genotype: set of alleles that are present - genetic composition of a
person
o Phenotype: observable physical traits
• Methods:
o Genetic Polymorphism: refers to variability among members of the
species - including differences in DNA and mutations in a
chromosome
▪ Can be induced by stimulus or be natural
▪ E.g. malfunction on a gene that is responsible for serotonin -
linked to depression
o Linkage Analysis: typically study families in which a disorder is
heavily concentrated
▪ Examine blood and look for genetic markers
▪ E.g. OCD and gaba receptor
o Gene-environment Interactions: the notion that a disorder is the joint
product of
a genetic vulnerability and specific environmental conditions or
experiences
• Concerns:
o Notion that illness and mental illness are predetermined
o The extent to which people try to modify lifestyle and
environmental factors related to mental health problems
▪ Can reduce mental health problems
NEUROSCIENCE/BIOCHEMISTRY
• Neuroscience: the study of the brain and nervous system - composed of
billions of neurons
• 4 major parts of a neuron:
o The cell body
o Several dendrites
o One or more axons of varying lengths
o Terminal buttons
• Nerve impulse: a change in the electric potential of the cell that travels
down the axon to the endings
• Synapse: the small gap between two neurons
• Neurotransmitters: chemical substances that allow a nerve impulse to
cross the synapse
• Reuptake: process where some of the neurotransmitter is pumped
back into the presynaptic cell
NEUROTRANSMITTERS AND PSYCHOPATHOLOGY
• The amount of neurotransmitters:
o Either too much or too little of a particular transmitter
• Receptors:
o Too numerous or too easily excited
EVALUATING THE BIOLOGICAL PARADIGM
• Reductionism: the view that whatever is being studied can and should be
reduced to its most basic elements
o Been severely criticized
COGNITIVE-BEHAVIOURAL - BEHAVIOURAL PERSPECTIVE
• Behavioural (learning) perspective: views abnormal behaviour as responses
learned in the same way other human behaviour is learned
o Classical conditioning
CHAPTER 2 - CURRENT PARADIGMS & INTEGRATIVE
APPROACHES WHAT IS A PARADIGM?
• Paradigm: a set of basic assumptions, a general perspective, that defines how
to:
o Study a subject
o Gather and interpret data
o Think about a particular subject
PARADIGMS IN ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY
• Biological
• Cognitive-behavioural
• Psychoanalytic
• Humanistic-existential
• Integrative
BIOLOGICAL PARADIGM
• Biological paradigm: says that mental disorders are caused by defective
biological processes
• 3 areas of research:
o Behavioural genetics
o Molecular genetics
o Neuroscience/Biochemistry
BEHAVIOURAL GENETICS
• Behavioural genetics: the study of individual differences in behavioural
attributable to differences in genetic makeup
o Genotype: unobservable genetic constitution
▪ Inheritable - e.g. schizophrenia
o Phenotype: observable, behavioural characteristics
▪ E.g. environment and experiences can trigger schizophrenia
• Methods:
o Family Method: use index cases (or probands - family member who has
the
diagnosis in question)
▪ Genetics are 50% from mom and 50% from dad
▪ Predisposition of a mental disorder - should be able to see
prevalence in other relatives
o Twin Method: concordance rates of MZ (identical) and DZ (fraternal)
twins
▪ Start with one twin and search for it in other twin
▪ Prevalence should be higher in MZ twins
o Adoptees Method: study children adopted and reared apart
▪ Rare method of study
• Concerns:
o Data can be difficult to interpret
o Other potential confounds
▪ E.g. parents are fearful and teach kids to be fearful
o Twin studies - equal environment assumption
MOLECULAR GENETICS
• Molecular Genetics: tries to specify particular genes involved and functions
of target genes
• Basic Concepts:
o Gene: a unit of DNA that transmits genetic information
, o Allele: different forms of a gene - produce different versions of the
trait they determine
o Genotype: set of alleles that are present - genetic composition of a
person
o Phenotype: observable physical traits
• Methods:
o Genetic Polymorphism: refers to variability among members of the
species - including differences in DNA and mutations in a
chromosome
▪ Can be induced by stimulus or be natural
▪ E.g. malfunction on a gene that is responsible for serotonin -
linked to depression
o Linkage Analysis: typically study families in which a disorder is
heavily concentrated
▪ Examine blood and look for genetic markers
▪ E.g. OCD and gaba receptor
o Gene-environment Interactions: the notion that a disorder is the joint
product of
a genetic vulnerability and specific environmental conditions or
experiences
• Concerns:
o Notion that illness and mental illness are predetermined
o The extent to which people try to modify lifestyle and
environmental factors related to mental health problems
▪ Can reduce mental health problems
NEUROSCIENCE/BIOCHEMISTRY
• Neuroscience: the study of the brain and nervous system - composed of
billions of neurons
• 4 major parts of a neuron:
o The cell body
o Several dendrites
o One or more axons of varying lengths
o Terminal buttons
• Nerve impulse: a change in the electric potential of the cell that travels
down the axon to the endings
• Synapse: the small gap between two neurons
• Neurotransmitters: chemical substances that allow a nerve impulse to
cross the synapse
• Reuptake: process where some of the neurotransmitter is pumped
back into the presynaptic cell
NEUROTRANSMITTERS AND PSYCHOPATHOLOGY
• The amount of neurotransmitters:
o Either too much or too little of a particular transmitter
• Receptors:
o Too numerous or too easily excited
EVALUATING THE BIOLOGICAL PARADIGM
• Reductionism: the view that whatever is being studied can and should be
reduced to its most basic elements
o Been severely criticized
COGNITIVE-BEHAVIOURAL - BEHAVIOURAL PERSPECTIVE
• Behavioural (learning) perspective: views abnormal behaviour as responses
learned in the same way other human behaviour is learned
o Classical conditioning
